Thompson Shuswap

The Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners’ Association was formed in January 2010.  The Chapter provides horticultural advice to the gardening public in the Thompson Shuswap region.  Currently we have members in Kamloops, Merritt, Vernon, Pritchard, Walhachin, Kelowna and Salmon Arm, and welcome new members from surrounding areas.

Our objective is to educate the public on environmentally-responsible gardening practices.  We encourage the use of preventative gardening practices such as the principle of ‘right plant, right place’, the use of biological controls, the provision of habitats for beneficial insects, and natural pest control strategies.

What do Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners do?

• Foremost, our volunteers give gardening advice at Clinics held in garden centres, at Seedy Saturdays/Sundays, fall fairs, farmers’ markets and community gardens.
• We have also worked with the community on a range of projects:  these have included coordinating garden workshops, presenting garden issues to garden clubs and other organizations, acting as consultants to community and school gardens, participating in garden tours and other community garden events, and presenting garden seminars through the City of Kamloops Parks and Recreation.
•  As well, we have cared for the McDonald Park Public Produce Demonstration Garden using ecology based on best Integrated Pest Management practices, and volunteered with Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Friends of the Garden (FOG) in projects such as Horticulture Horizons, the FOG spring plant sale and the Tomato Festival.